New Hawaii Board Of Education All Business
The first meeting of Hawaii’s new appointed Board of Education conspicuously lacked fanfare, lei and celebration.
Chairman Don Horner‘s first words on convening the meeting Tuesday were, “We are running seven minutes late, and that’s not my style.”
His statement set the tone for a no-frills, all-business affair that — even with orientation — lasted barely six hours. After orientation, the general business meeting itself lasted about an hour and a half, compared with board meetings of yore which sometimes lasted six or seven hours, or even longer.
“We know it’s not always going to be like this,” said board member Keith Amemiya, acknowledging that there will inevitably be days when public testimony floods in and board discussion drags on.
Tuesday, though, business moved at a fast clip. During orientation, Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi‘s broad overview of the department’s structure and responsibilities was interrupted only by questions that got into deeper detail than she had planned.
were Horner’s proposals for to replace the old ones and a committee leadership slate — both of which were approved without opposition. Board members may participate on as many committees as they like, and they organized the committee membership within minutes, but not without some confusion over whether a vote had been taken properly. New Vice Chairman Brian DeLima, an attorney from the Big Island, helped guide the board through proper meeting protocol.
“I know the former board was all about ,” Horner said. “I don’t really get excited about all that, but we’ll get it done.”
Horner gave homework to the chairs of the four new committees: They are to write charters outlining their respective committees’ scope so their oversight duties are focused and don’t overlap.
The board also discussed how it will align its relationship with the Department of Education. From now on, the school system will be guided by a single strategic plan formulated by the superintendent and approved by the board. In the past, the board and department have each developed their own independent strategic plans.
We have updated our Board of Education topic page with the committee members and the board’s general business meeting schedule for this year.
